Valentine's Day Special: Dunkin's New Brownie Batter Donut

For Valentine's Day this year, Dunkin' Donuts has introduced the Brownie Batter Donut ($0.99). Its heart shape does little to disguise the fact that the doughnut shares the same enriched wheat flour, palm oil, and water base that comprises much of the menu. Once fried, the ingredients yield the same semi-soft, chewy, fried dough texture that defines a Dunkin' Donuts doughnut. The difference here is that, after a quick visit in the fryer, the brownie batter doughnut gets injected with what their website calls a "Buttercreme Filling." Weirdly, there's no butter, or cream, and it's an eggless batter. Well, at least you're not short on sugar.

The brownie batter is rich—very rich. Cocoa lends itself to something that resembles brownie batter in color, while sugar and corn syrup take care of the sweetness. The doughnut has 360 calories, most of which lie in the intense filling. If you're going to indulge, we suggest sharing this with your loved one.

Have you tried this new doughnut? Is the over-the-top sugar appropriate for Valentine's Day or is it just too much? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Craig Cavallo has been working and eating in New York City restaurants for a decade. His insatiable appetite (and bike) take him to the next delicious thing. You can follow Craig's journey @digestny and on Digest NY, a website he launched in 2012 to share his love of food and the stories told through it. A love affair with wine grew organically when Craig was an opening staff member at Eataly's wine store. The job lead him to Piedmont, where he rolled in the hills of Langhe and discovered the beauty of hazelnuts, Arneis and salsiccia di Bra. Craig's from Syracuse, but he lives and writes in Brooklyn.